Apple does not respond to threads in these user-to-user communities. (Neither does Cox 😉)
Apple has not stated a reason for the time interval (about three months) before an inactive thread is closed. As discussion of Apple moderation of the forums runs afoul of the Terms of Use Agreement we all agreed to follow on signing up here. Section B.1.ii.
As for questions going unanswered, those who respond are other end users, not Apple, and we respond on a time-available basis. There an estimated 3 million forums users of the English-language forum version alone and maybe 50-75 long-serving volunteers who routinely respond here on a daily basis. You can't force volunteers.
You can contact the moderation team if you want. Their contact information is in the Terms of Use document I linked above.